Colonels and promotable lieutenant colonels of the active-component health services branches will be considered for brigade-level command positions that become vacant in fiscal 2015 by a board that meets Jan. 8-16.

The Army also has updated certain selection subcategories for the Maneuver, Fires and Effects brigade-level Army Competitive Category command and key billets panel that meets Jan. 7-14. The subcategories, displayed in the accompanying chart, update information that was announced Oct. 16.

Similar to the Army Competitive Category board, the Army Medical Department board will be an “opt in” panel, meaning that officers must indicate they want to compete using the online Command Preference Designation application, a management tool used by the officer directorate of Human Resources Command.

Officers cannot opt in using the My Board File application, an online system for reviewing and certifying documents in the official personnel file.

Officers who decline consideration by not opting in will remain eligible for command should they decide to compete for selection in the future, provided they are in that board’s zone of consideration.

Officers who opt in and then decline command after selection will forfeit eligibility for future command consideration.

The basic zone of consideration for the upcoming AMEDD board will include colonels and promotable lieutenant colonels of the Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps, Medical Specialist Corps and Veterinary Corps who will not have completed 27 years (324 months) of active federal service as of Sept. 30, 2014.

The selection categories and qualifying branches and specialties are displayed in the accompanying chart.